Caster



Jan. 5, 1932. J KM L 1,839,396

CASTER Filed Dec 19. 1930 NNNNNN OR 2 AAAAA EV;

\ i vision of a caster having a flat roller ing the support transferredto the Patented Jan. 5, 1932 JOHN A. KIMBALL, F TAYLORVILLE, ILLINOISCASTER Application filed December 19,- 1930. Serial No. 503,588.

This invention relates'to casters and has especial relation to castersfor use uponfurniture.

An object of the invention is to provide a caster which may be rotatablymounted within the leg of an article of furniture so that the saidarticle may be moved forward and reverse in a direct line withoutrequiring a roller to pivot on its vertical center, as is necessary inthe use of casters of the ordinary type. This pivoting of the roller onits vertical center results in twisting and frequently tearing a rug orcarpet, as well as inarring the surface of a floor where the furnitureis moved over a bare floor, and the present invention has been designedfor the purpose of overcoming these disadvantages.

Another object of the invention is the prowhich is freely movable in adirect horizontal line upon opposite sides of the vertical center of thecast-er and wherein the weight of a supported article of furniture istransferred from the roller trunnions to the periphery of the rollerduring such movement.

lVith the above and other objects in View, the invention furtherincludes the following novel features and details of. construction,

to be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is an elevation of the invention shown attachedto the leg of an article of furniture with the leg in section, the Viewalso showing the reverse position of the roller by dotted lines. 7

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view showperiphery of the roller. 1

Figure 3 is an edge View of the invention per se.

Referring to the drawings in detail wherein like characters of referencedenote cor This top plate responding parts, the referencecharacterindicates the opposite parallel sides of a carriage, while 11 indicatesatop plate which connects the upper edges of the sides 10.

12 for the passage of a shank 13 whereby the caster may be attached tothe leg 14 of an article of furniture. The leg is provided with a socket15 which receives a split sleeve 16, the latter having a toothed flange17 wvhereby this sleeveimay be secured to the leg 14. The shank 13 isprovided with a head 18 for insertion in the split sleeve whereby the"caster may be attached as is usual in devices of this character.

The shank 13 carries a ball race 19 for antifriction balls 20 and theseballs bear upon the top plate 11 while the ball race bears against theunder face of the flange 17 so that the cage may be freely rotated aboutits vertical center.

The side plates 10 of the cage are providedwith horizontally disposedelongated slots 21 and theseslots are adapted to receivetrunnions 22which extend from opposite sides of a roller 23. The upper edges of theslots 21 bear upon the trunnions'22 and the sides '10 are provided withoutwardly disposed reinforcing flanges 24 at opposite ends of the slotswhich provide bearings for the trunnions 22. The upper; walls of the.slots 21 extend up wardly as'shown at 25 from points spaced inward fromthe opposite ends of the slots, so

is provided with an opening 5 that when the trunnions move. inward fromI beneath the bearing flanges 24, the periphery of the roller 23will'have engaged a head 26 which is carriedby the shank 13, so that theweight will be transferred from the trunnions togthe periphery of theroller 23. By providing the head 26, a reinforced bearing surface forthe roller 23 is provided at this point.

Then an article of furniture casteris attached is moved in ofthe arrow ain Figure 1' of the drawings,

to which the the direction reverse direction, the trunnions 22 of theroller will move longitudinally through the slot 21, the weight'beingsupported upon the trunnions until the latter reach approximately aparallel tending slots therein and a top wall connectthe beginning ofthe curved portion 25 of the slot. The periphery of the roller will thenhave engaged the head 26, so that the weight will be transferred fromthe trunnions to the periphery of the roller and the latter will freelyroll to the opposite end of the cage with the trunnions engaging withinthe opposite ends of the slots 21 as shown by the dotted line positionin Figure 1. In Figure 2 the roller 23 is shown as supporting theweight.

The invention is susceptible of various changes in its form, proportionsand minor details ofconstructionand the right is herein reserved to makesuch changes asproper-1 ly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described claimed is 1. In a caster, a cage, means to mount thecage for horizontal rotary movement, a floatthe invention what is ingroller supporting the cage, and 'means to transfer-the support of" thecagefrom the ing the side walls, a shank extending upwardly from thecage intermediate the length of the slots and having a head disposedwithin the cage, a roller having its trunnions extending into and freelymovable throughout the length of said slots and supporting the cage, andsaid slots having their upper walls curved for a distance spaced fromthe ends of the slots to transfer the weight from the trunnions to theperiphery of the roller.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature.

7 JOHN A. KIMBALL.

'trunnions of the'roller to the periphery there- 2,111 a caster, a cagecomprising spaced parallel side Walls having longitudinally disposedslots therein and a top wall connecting the side walls, a roller havingits trunnions extending into said slotsand supporting the cage, means'tomount the cage for horizontal rotary movement, and means to transfer thesupport of the cage from the trunnions to the periphery of the roller.

3. In a caster, a cage comprising spaced parallel side walls havinglongitudinally disposed slots thereln'and a top wall connecting the sidewalls, a shank extending upwardly.

from the cage intermediate the length of the slotsand having a headdisposed within the cage, a roller having its trunnions extending intosaid slots and supporting the cage, and means to transfer the'weightfrom the trunnions to the periphery of the roller.

4; In a caster, a cage comprising spaced parallel side walls havinghorizontally extending slots therein and a top wall connecting the sidewalls, a shank extending upwardly from the cage intermediate the lengthof the slots and having a head disposed within the cage, a roller havingits trunnions extending into and freely movable throughoutthe length ofsaid slots and. supporting the cage, and means -to transfer the weight"from the trunnions to the periphery of the roller.

5. In a caster, acage comprising spaced side walls having horizontallyex-

